Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor touched down at the Mumbai airport late Wednesday night, returning from a high-profile trip to Los Angeles. The actor was in the U.S. for an exclusive, invite-only preview of Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus, Ramayana, held on March 30-31, 2026.
As he exited the private terminal, Ranbir was immediately swarmed by photographers eager for a glimpse of the actor portraying Lord Ram. In a moment that has since gone viral, Ranbir bypassed the usual “pose and smile” routine, instead greeting the gathered paparazzi with “Namaste” and a resounding “Jai Shree Ram.” The gesture, captured in several social media clips, was seen as a nod to his character in the upcoming trilogy and served to immediately reconnect with the domestic audience following the “West-first” teaser controversy.
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The Los Angeles event, titled Rama, was a curated showcase intended to display the film’s cutting-edge VFX to global distributors and a select group of fans. While the footage reportedly received a standing ovation in the U.S., it also sparked a debate among Indian fans regarding why the first look debuted on foreign soil. Ranbir’s traditional greeting upon his return is being interpreted by many as a way to emphasize the film’s deep cultural roots despite its global marketing strategy.
Countdown to Hanuman Jayanti
Dressed in a comfortable olive-green tracksuit and sporting the clean-shaven look required for his role as Lord Ram, Ranbir appeared relaxed despite the long-haul flight. When asked about the teaser’s reception in the U.S., he offered a modest thumbs-up and reminded the media to stay tuned for April 2, 2026. The official digital teaser is scheduled to drop globally tomorrow to coincide with the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.